Investigating Potential Preoperative Risk Factors for Left Ventricular Assist Device Driveline Infections.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To identify potential preoperative risk factors that predispose a patient to developing a left ventricular assist device driveline infection.

RECENT FINDINGS

The fully magnetically-levitated left ventricular assist device has proven to be a safe and effective durable option for patients with advanced heart failure. However, driveline infections are a significant adverse event that impact patient mortality, morbidity, and quality of life. Potential preoperative risk factors such as INTERMACS score, temporary cardiovascular support, body mass index, hemoglobin A1C, prealbumin, infection, and hospital length of stay do not appear to significantly predispose a patient to developing a left ventricular assist device driveline infection. There is a need for more extensive research on postoperative patient and driveline management in order to identify high risk patients and delineate best practice to decrease the risk and burden of driveline infections.